Chapter 72 Chapter Seventy Two: Suspicion

Chapter 72 Chapter Seventy Two: Suspicion
Lior sat at the breakfast table with his cheek resting against one hand, staring blankly at the plate in front of him. His body felt heavy, his eyes felt heavier.

Across from him, Adrian looked perfectly fine. The Alpha had somehow managed to look fresh and composed like he wasn't always awake all night.

Lior picked up his fork and pushed a piece of fruit around his plate.

Adrian watched him for a moment. “You're tired.”

Lior slowly lifted his eyes. “You think?”

A faint smile tugged at Adrian's lips. “I offered to let you sleep.”

“You did not.”

“I told you to sleep. Again, you can just take the day off.”

“Stop preaching to me like you're not the cause of my suffering. What kind of wild beat are you? You said two or three times, but you did it five times.”

Adrian's smile widened. “I'm sorry, baby, my rut won't let me off.”

Before Lior could respond, footsteps approached the dining room.

Jay walked in wearing yesterday's clothes, his hair slightly messy.“Morning.”

“Morning,” Lior muttered.

Jay dropped into the chair beside Lior and reached for a piece of toast. “I'll be heading home later today.”

Lior's head immediately lifted. “Today?”

“Yeah.” Jay took a bite. “I'll leave before you get back from work, so I'll text you when I get home.”

Lior's expression fell slightly. “You're leaving me alone?”

Jay gave him a look. “You have a six-foot-something Alpha living in your house. I don't think you're going to be lonely.”

Lior glanced at Adrian.

Adrian calmly continued eating.

“He doesn't live here, he only comes over sometimes. And he doesn't watch series, he's boring.”

Jay laughed. “You'll survive.”

Lior sighed dramatically and returned to his breakfast.

They finished eating soon after, and it was time to leave for work.

Lior suddenly remembered the state his legs were in.

He pulled out his phone, quickly typed something, then held it out to Adrian:

‘Please carry me while I pretend to protest. I don't want Jay to see I'm limping.’

Adrian read the message. Then he looked at Lior.

Lior gave him a pleading look.

Without saying a word, Adrian bent down and picked him up.

“Adrian!” Lior immediately began struggling against him. “Put me down!”

Jay stared at them, then he rolled his eyes. “Sure. Very convincing.”

Lior buried his face against Adrian's shoulder. “Shut up.”

Adrian carried him toward the door. “You asked for this.”

“I didn't ask for you to enjoy it.”

“I am enjoying it.”

Jay snorted behind them. “Have a good day, you two.”

Adrian carried Lior all the way to the car and only put him down once they reached the passenger side.

As soon as the doors closed and the car pulled away from the house, Adrian started laughing.

Lior crossed his arms. “What's funny?”

“You.”

“It's your fault.”

Adrian glanced at him. “My fault? I recall you being a willing participant.”

Lior glared at him. “Really? Did I ask you to change the way I walk?”

Adrian bit back a smile. “That was unintentional.”

Lior looked out the window. “I don't want to talk to you.”

Adrian laughed again.

For the rest of the drive, he tried to make peace with the sulking Omega beside him.

Lior refused to look at him.

“You're angry with me?” Adrian asked, but got no response. “Lior.”

Nothing.

“I said I'm sorry.”

Still nothing.

Adrian reached over and gently squeezed his hand.

Lior finally glanced at him. “You're annoying.”

“I know, I'm sorry.”

“You made me lose sleep.”

“I’m sorry.”

“My legs hurt. And you're laughing.”

“I apologized for that too.”

Lior tried not to smile, but he failed.

Adrian noticed immediately. “There.”

“What?”

“That smile.”

“I didn't smile. Don't piss me off more.”

Adrian leaned closer and kissed him. It was brief, soft and reassuring.

“There,” he said. “Now you're less angry.”

Lior touched his lips and muttered, “Maybe.”

By the time they reached the underground parking lot of the company, Lior had mostly stopped sulking.

Mostly.

Adrian parked and turned toward him. “Come here.”

Lior frowned. “Why?”

Adrian leaned over and kissed him again.

Lior smiled against his lips. “You're bribing me.”

“Is it working?”

“Maybe.”

They eventually got out of the car and headed upstairs.

_________

Instead of sitting at his usual workstation, Lior found himself sitting opposite Adrian, inside the Alpha's office.

He looked at the stack of documents in front of him, then at Adrian. “Why am I sitting here?”

Adrian didn't even look up from his own paperwork. “I want to see your face.”

Lior blinked. “You saw my face all night.”

“And?”

Lior opened his mouth, then closed it, he had no answer for that.

Adrian looked satisfied.

They worked through documents together. Or at least, Lior tried to.

Adrian kept looking up. Once, twice… then again.

Lior eventually caught him staring. “Do you need something?”

“No.”

“Then stop looking at me, I'm trying to focus here.”

“But I like looking at you.”

Lior shook his head and returned to his paperwork.

A few minutes later, Adrian leaned forward and kissed him.

Lior smiled. “You're supposed to be working.”

“I am.”

“You're kissing me.”

“I can multitask.”

“That isn't multitasking.”

Adrian kissed him again, “I'd argue it is.”

Lior laughed softly.

The kiss lingered longer this time, and Adrian's hand found Lior's hair.

Then,

Knock. Knock.

They immediately pulled apart.

Lior straightened his clothes and hurriedly fixed his hair, trying to make himself look as though he had been doing nothing except working.

Adrian calmly adjusted his shirt. “Come in.”

The door opened.

Clara stepped inside carrying a small architectural model.

“Sir.”

She approached the desk and carefully placed the model in front of Adrian.

“The revised model for the Riverside development. The architects made the changes you requested.”

Adrian glanced at it. “Leave it there.”

“Yes, sir.”

Clara bowed slightly and left.

The door closed.

Lior stared at the miniature building. “That's beautiful.”

Adrian looked at him. “You like it?”

“Yeah. It's so detailed.”

Adrian picked up the model and turned it slightly. “The actual building will have three additional floors.”

Lior leaned closer. “You drew this?”

“I designed the original structure.”

Lior looked at him. There was something about seeing Adrian's work like this that always fascinated him. The man could be terrifying when angry, but he could also sit for hours working over tiny details until everything was exactly how he wanted it.

Adrian returned the model to the desk. “Back to work.”

Lior smiled. “Yes, Boss.”

________

Later that morning, Adrian stood in front of the mirror adjusting his tie.

He was preparing to leave for a meeting when the door opened.

Vivienne walked in.

Lior was standing close to Adrian, helping straighten the tie.

The moment he saw her, he stepped back.

Vivienne looked between them. “Please, sit. I don't mean to disturb.”

Lior shook his head politely. “I'm fine.” He returned to his desk outside the office.

Vivienne watched him leave before turning toward Adrian.

She walked over and sat in one of the chairs. “I'm mad at you.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow. “I gathered.”

“But I came for the check you said you'd write me when I was sober.”

Adrian walked to his desk and opened a drawer.

He took out his checkbook. “How much did you say you needed?”

“One hundred and fifty million.”

Adrian wrote the check without hesitation… then he paused, and doubled the amount.

Vivienne watched him. “You wrote three hundred million?”

“Yes.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

Adrian tore the check from the book and handed it to her.

Vivienne took it carefully, then she looked up. “Are you free tomorrow?”

“For what?”

“To see our doctor.”

Adrian's expression became slightly more distant. “I'm busy.”

“You're always busy.”

“I have work.”

Vivienne stared at him for a moment before standing. “Fine.”

She walked toward the door.

Adrian returned his attention to the documents on his desk.

Vivienne opened the door and stepped onto the executive floor.

She stopped at Lior's desk.

Lior looked up.

Vivienne reached over, picked up a pen from his desk and pulled a small piece of paper toward herself.

She wrote something down.

Then she looked at him. “You're Lior?”

Lior nodded. “Yes, ma'am.”

She placed the piece of paper in front of him. It had a phone number written on it.

“That's my number.”

Lior looked at it, confused.

Vivienne continued. “You're my husband's assistant. Since you're almost always with him, do me a favor.”

Lior looked back at her. “What kind of favor?”

“Give me a call if you notice he's involved with another Omega.”

Lior blinked. “Ma'am, I'm not sure I understand what you mean.”

Vivienne's expression remained calm. “If he's having an affair.”

“Oh.”

Lior didn't know what else to say.

Vivienne gave him a small nod. “Thank yo

u.”

Then she walked away.

Lior watched her disappear into the direction of the elevator.

His eyes slowly dropped back to the number on his desk. He wasn't sure whether he felt insulted, uncomfortable, or strangely nervous.

Adrian's wife had just asked him to investigate her husband over the suspicion that he might be having an affair.